Lou Volpe Here and Now Review

By: Vince Lewis

Lou Volpe has an outstanding professional resume. He has appeared as a sideman with many great jazz and pop artists. A partial list includes Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Herbie Mann, Peggy Lee and the Manhattan Transfer. Volpe was a student of Sal Salvador and spent quite a bit of time in jam sessions with Les Paul.

Here and Now recording is largely original material. Titles include “Astral Island,” “Hear and Now,” “Live Wires” and “Blue Boppa.” “Prince Charming” is a straight-ahead shuffle blues and there is a nice Latin treatment of the classic jazz standard “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise.”

Volpe has a strong blues influence present in his phrasing. His tone is the very traditional and contains a familiar big and round hollow-body sound. His phrasing changes from ultra funky to be bop as the tune dictates. His single-note lines are well crafted and executed.

The surrounding cast on this recording is comprised of veteran jazz players. Onaje Allan Gumbs (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Buddy Williams (drums) provide the perfect backing for Volpe’s guitar work.

Fans of both Mainstream and Smooth Jazz should enjoy this effort by Volpe and company. There are enough different grooves here to appeal to each type of listener. Volpe has been around the Jazz Guitar scene for quite a while, and it’s a pleasure to see a new recording with him as the bandleader.